Academy On Shortlist For Safest School Award

Corby Business Academy is in the running to be named as the safest school in the country.

The Academy is one of three secondary schools in contention for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust national award and is the only Northamptonshire organisation to have been selected in the final shortlist.

It will be announced whether CBA has won the accolade at a gala being held in London on Saturday, November 21st at the Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel.

The Academy was designed with safety in mind.

Its wide corridors and glass walls ensure students are visible at all times and the building also has individual toilets rather than the more traditional toilet blocks, which can become a venue for bullying.

An electronic smart card system is used which acts as an automatic register and also prevents unauthorised persons entering the building and there is a network of CCTV cameras across the site to maximise security.

Other safety features include creating a cashless society - students put funds onto their smart cards to pay for lunch - and the Academy provides two late buses at 5pm and another at 5.30pm so students have a safe mode of transport home every day.

And as part of the Safer Schools Partnership, the Academy works with a Police Community Support Officer officer who visits regularly and works with students and staff.

Principal Dr Andrew Campbell said: "The nomination is excellent news and testament to the designers and sponsors of CBA who began from the premise that schools should be built for students' convenience, safety and security. I am delighted that we have been shortlisted for such an important award."

Alongside the safety measures within the building, the Academy is committed to providing students with information that will increase their safety awareness.

All students have recently attended assemblies about online safety and the school has invited in organisations to talk about the issues of underage drinking, drug taking and knife crime.

The next safety event is a parents' information evening on Wednesday, November 18th which will feature talks about internet safety and sessions will be hosted by the police and fire service.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust was set up in 1986 in memory of missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh and works to raise awareness of the importance of personal safety.

Jenny Fawson, Director of Personal Safety at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: "The safety of pupils and staff is clearly taken seriously at Corby Business Academy and the judges were particularly impressed by the use of design to minimize the risk of incidents. We are very pleased to shortlist them for this national Safer School award."

Click here to visit the student safety pages where we have information for parents and students about issues such as internet safety and road safety.